By Oluwakemi Kindness
Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has been sworn in as the country’s new president, five years after staging a coup that plunged the nation into civil war.
Speaking at his inauguration in Naypyidaw on Friday, the 69-year-old general claimed Myanmar had “returned to the path of democracy” and was moving toward a better future, despite ongoing challenges.
Min Aung Hlaing secured the presidency last week through a landslide vote by a pro-military parliament, further cementing his control over the country.
Two other candidates who contested the position were named vice presidents.
He originally seized power in 2021 from Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was later detained.
The coup sparked widespread protests, violence, and a prolonged conflict between the military and pro-democracy groups.
The unrest led to a nationwide civil disobedience movement and the rise of armed resistance groups met with a harsh military crackdown.
Myanmar was subsequently suspended from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In his address, Min Aung Hlaing pledged to rebuild ties with regional partners and restore normal relations with ASEAN.
The ceremony was attended by officials from neighboring countries including China, India, and Thailand, along with representatives from about 20 other nations.
However, democracy advocates have condemned his election as illegitimate. His promise to grant amnesty to political prisoners and reinstate civil servants who joined protests has also been dismissed by critics as superficial
